"We are very keen that the sort of content we have on our Fakir Khana Museum website should be enticing and appealing and should encourage people to make regular visits."

Fakir Sayyed Iftikhar uddinFakir Khana MuseumGeneration VI .

Fakir Khana Museum's Web site has utilized latest Internet technology to describe the astounding development of web science. Animations and interactive environments are used to explore the Fakir Khana Museum artifacts & archives.

The technology played an important role in the development of human knowledge and culture and is also used to demonstrate the role of scientific discoveries in today's society. The aim is to inform about the achievements recognized by visitors and to stimulate the interest of visitors of the Fakir Khana museum website.

I hope that you have enjoyed exploring our website and that you will visit it again soon. We welcome your feedback regarding our web pages. If you have any suggestions or ideas we would like to hear from you. Please send an email with your comments to:

Introduction

I am proud to be a part of the Fakir family. its a family, which has a great historical background of great people, who played an important part in the history of Punjab. I was always fascinated by the fact that whenever my family used to sit together (and Fakir Khana being the topic of discussion ultimately) my elders could easily trace out our roots back to generations and generations...As a child I couldn't help but get amused by the fact that we had so much in our possession; pieces that were hundreds of years old, pieces that had stories to tell. Today, people do know what ‘Fakir Khana’ is but they have no idea about its magnitude i.e“ The largest private antiques collection in South East Asia”Majority of them have no idea what sort of relics we have in our possession, especially the relics of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) & original pieces of hand written manuscripts of The Holy Quran. Even the famous Badshahi Mosque carries relics given on loan by Fakir Sayyed Noor Uddin Bukhari (a minister in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s court) in the year 1849. The Lahore Museum also has an entire hall dedicated to the antiquities donated by my great grand father “ Fakir Sayyed Jalal Uddin Bukhari” My aim is to create awareness regarding our roots, our past, our history, because only then we can understand the true meaning of our present that will build the future of generations to come. Thus, here I am, with the an effort to put all the information in black and white, which up till now was just in the minds of our elders, because I want everyone to relish the beauty we have at Fakir Khana Museum and know the generations from whose hands its been passing through..

VisionMy vision is not only to digitize Fakir khana Museum but to digitize and preserve the whole cultural Heritage of Pakistan starting from my home land Lahore, which is the cultural center of Pakistan.

I believe that digitizing and making it available over the internet will not only provide source of information for the tourists and the art lovers around the world but our cultural heritage will be preserved for future generations.

I need support from the goverment of Pakistan and other agencies to make this dream come true.

I see Pakistan as one of those 13 countries who have managed to preserve their cultural heritage.

The lavish abodes of royalty, Fakir Khana Museum offers a glimpse into the regal lifestyles where tourists are treated as guests of the Fakir family. The ambience, in keeping with their history, architecture and traditions add old world charm. Fakir Khana Museum's heritage is an insight in the varied facets of the country's history, religious and cultural contrasts, and its indigenous lifestyles still untouched by the trappings of modernity. Enjoy the Fakir Khana Collection experience by following the following links:

Museum Hours : During the working days opening & closing times are as follows:

Winter:October 1st to April 15th9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Summer: April 16th to September 30th 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Holidays: (museum will be closed on)Fakir khana museum is open to public on all days except Saturdays and days corresponding to Juma tul wida (last Friday of Ramadan) Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Zoha, Miladun Nabi, 9th and 10th of the Holy month of Muharram, 1st may (May day), 11ty September (Quaids anniversary) & first Wednesday of each month for general cleanliness

Admission: There are no charges for admission into the museum however prior appointment is required to your visit through telephone, fax or email. In the event any visits are arranged to the museum without appointment, rights of admission to the Fakir Khana Museum are reserved by the Fakir Khana Trust and the Museum staff.

Photography: Still photography is permitted for private, noncommercial use only in the Museum's Halls. Photographs cannot be published, sold, reproduced, transferred, distributed, or otherwise commercially exploited in any manner whatsoever. Photography is not permitted in special exhibitions or areas designated as "No Photography"; The use of a flash is prohibited. Movie and video cameras are prohibited. Tripods are allowed, and only with a permit of the Curator. The Museum reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withhold and/or withdraw permission to photograph on its premises or to reproduce photographs of objects in its collection.

Location The museum is located (near kucha Pehalwanan) in Bazar Hakiman, off Bhatti gate, one of the 13 gates which once pierced the 30 feet high fortification wall surrounding the old city. Visitors can easily reach Bazar hakiman either through the western gate of Hazoori Bagh (after the visit of Badshai mosque and Lahore fort) or through Rang Mahal Chowk. Visitors using a taxi/private vehicle are advised to enter Bazar Hakiman either from the north (Taxali Gate or Masti Gate) or from south "Bhatti gate"; Visitors using urban transport or Omnibus service should get down to Bhatti gate or Taxali gate.

Other Facilities: There is no restaurant or canteen in the museum. However cool drinks as well as traditional scented sharbat, fruit juices, local edibles of good quality are available in shops close by. Milk & lassi (a drink made of yogurt) is available just at the main gate of the museum. For lunchtime a very delicious traditional food is available near the museum which include: nihari, phajja paye, Haleem, Murgh Chanay, Dal tikki, Keema walay nan, and a lot more.

Children: Children below the age of 12 are not allowed in the Museum Collection display area

Guide Facility: No regular guide service is available. However, for any additional information contact the Coordinator or the General Secretary Fakir Khana Museum.Students or groups visiting Fakir khana are advised to take appointment first so that special arrangements can be made to facilitate them

The shajra of Fakir Khana “ khandan-e-fuqra-e-Lahore” traces origin of this family from Adam to the Holy Prophet *(P.b.u.h) and then down to ‘Hazrat Jalal-uddin Hussain Makhdoom Jahanian Jahan Ghasht’ of Uch Sharif and then down to ‘Sayyed Hussain Pir Kamal’ of Chunia and finally to ‘Fakir Sayed Ghulam Mohi-Uddin Nausha-e-Sani’ of Lahore, the real founder of the Fakir Family and ends up with Fakir Sayed Noor-uddin, his son, from whom the present family of Fakir Khana derives its decent. The great ancestor of Fakir Khana Sayyed Jalal Uddin Sher Shah Haider Surkhposh, was a resident of Bukhara hence his families carry the title Bukhari. Son of Sayyed Ali Abu -al - Mawaid Bin Ja’afer Hussaini, Sayyed Jalal Uddin was born in Bukhara in 595 A.H / 1198 A.D’’. Because of his saintly edisposition, he, along with his desciples, left Bukhara for Makkah, Madina Najf Sharif And Baghdad. Finally he reached the Punjab with his two sons.

Here, he first settled in Bhakhar in Sind and married the daughter of Sayyed Badrudin Bin Sadrud Din. When she died he married another sister of hers; Because of jealousy of some of the family members in Bhakhar probably resulting from his marriage, he left this town and settled in that part of ancient Uch Sharif now called Chenab Rasulpur formerly known as Deogarh. There he died between 1265 & 1270 A.D not in 1293 (as commonly believed) Sayyed Jalal Uddin Bukhari Surkhposh had three sons from his Sindhi wives namely Sayyed Ahmed Kabir, Sayyed Bahaud Din and Sayyed Mohammad. From his eldest son Sayyed Ahmad Kabir were two sons Hazrat Jalal Uddin Hussain Makhdoom Jahanian Jahan Ghasht and Hazrat Sadrud Din Raju Qattal. The ‘shajra’ Geological Table preserved in Fakir Khana reveals that Fakir family is a direct descendant of Makhdoom Jahanian Jahan Ghasht.

Fakir Khana Museum "the largest antiques collection in South East Asia" is the honor, procession and pride of the well-known Fakir Family whose vibrant history can be amazingly traced back to hundreds of years. This museum is basically inside an early 20th century house, carrying a kaleidoscope of unimaginable pieces. From gems & stones, portraits & miniatures to the original manuscripts of The Holy Quran and Relics of Islam including the relics of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). It is a place full of history, memories and treasures.Every single artifact at Fakir Khana Museum has a story to tell. Entering the arches of the Fakir Khana museum you truly get to know that not only this family is the proud bearer of the relics and the antiques collection but it’s also a part of an eventful history. The sixth generation of the Fakir Khana today can trace their family back to 18th century when their ancestors came from “BUKHARA” to “UCH-SHARIEF”. They were the ones who served in the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh as the Prime Minister and Royal Physician. Fakir Sayyed Noor Uddin was amongst the favorites of Maharaja Ranjit Singh as he cured an acute eye disease which was spoiling his good eye. Fakir Sayyed Noor Uddin later made the largest hospital for the poor today known as “MAYO” hospital. Fakir Sayyed Aziz Uddin was very much respected, as he was not only the prime minister but also an interpreter for Maharaja Ranjit Singh.Being the ruler at the time, Maharaja Ranjit Singh more often received gifts from official visitors which he passed on to the Fakir Brothers along with most of other treasures from his predecessors. One of the most talked about gifts of that time is the huge portrait of Queen Victoria presented by Lord Auckland, which is framed in gold and set in real turquoise. Later generations travelled the world and collected Chinese & Japanese paintings, miniatures, imari bowls, coins, Buddhist stone carvings, ancient pottery, silver & what not. From antique weapons to a stone poison filter (recently tested by a drug company & guaranteed to work) this place won’t stop amazing you. Each of these 30,000 pieces spell bind visitors. This is the time when they highly comprehend the passion and obsession of the Fakir Family Collection.